The iSlate is coming

Apple tablet computer will fit in snugly between iPhones and MacBooks

According to CNet, "the most buzzed-about device at CES 2010 wasn't even on display here." It's a huge statement, but considering the massive tide of speculation over the upcoming Apple tablet, nicknamed "iSlate," it's actually believable. After years of hearing rumors and seeing Web pages upon Web pages of Apple fanboy-generated mock-ups, we can almost actually see the elusive tablet on the horizon.

The latest reports, based on shipments of touchscreens and aluminum casings, say that the iSlate should arrive by the second quarter of this year.

Though the rumored tablet has for a long time gone through multiple iterations on fan sites, most sources now agree that the device will don something close to a 10" screen and will be priced at about $750, almost halfway between the $399 high-end iPod Touch and $999 entry-level MacBook.

As with other tablets, the iSlate will not have as much computing power as its laptop and desktop brethren, but it will be more than capable of running all the processes we're used to seeing on smartphones: audio/video playing, Web browsing, gaming, and any other applications one can think of.

In fact, it is suspected that Apple is placing much of its faith in the success of the iSlate on its compatibility with any and all applications in the App Store, straight out of the box.

The biggest question is whether carriers will subsidize the tablet, as they do mobile phones and netbooks. According to Bernstein Research led by Senior Analyst Toni Sacconaghi, Jr., "subsidization by carriers is possible, but meaningful subsidization through expensive, unlimited data plans appears unlikely, particularly in the US, due to prevailing congested networks, and more importantly, potentially unfavorable economics to carriers."

AT&T, for example, already has experienced quite a bit of negative hype from iPhone users for its 3G service; the official "Mark the Spot" app is meant to help the carrier improve its reception in the worst areas.

As for potential sales volume, the Bernstein report predicts that the iSlate will sell about three million units in its first year, with five million as a maximum. For comparison, Apple sells about eight million notebooks a year.

Forecasts aside, there is one thing that's certain: the buzz around the iSlate is huge and will only continue to magnify as its release date nears (an official announcement would be nice). Whether Apple can live up to the noise, we will see.